FS5: Top-rodding the FS5

[mcbob]

OK... had some time today and blogged for a lot longer than I thought I would (or is really necessary) about drilling some holes in a piece of angle aluminum :grin:

http://mcbob.tv/2018/03/25/smallrigging-the-fs5-the-balance-of-size-and-utility/

Anyway... in short, I hate top-heavy rigs and this is my modest attempt to finally convert the FS5 to not being so... saving weight, money, and time in the process.

 

[moldcad]

Yeah, have done the same with my FS7 (using the same Smallrig bracket, which I screwed directly to the Smallrig top plate - no additional DYI parts needed). I have now a great way of supporting (or should I say: "hanging") my heavy lenses from above, and the space freed now on the lower rods I can use for mounting Follow Focus etc. At last!

Piotr

PS. It works fine with all my lenses having the collar with tripod "leg" (like the Sony 28-135 or Canon 70-200mm) - it's enough to rotate the collar 180 degrees so the tripod leg is facing upwards! The additional advantage of my "implementation" is that (with only slight mod) it also fits the cage of my A7Rii, so I can handle it without rods or tripod safely with the 28-135mm Sony lens; now the latter being FF can really be taken full advantage of...

The picture shows it fully rigged, but you can see the upper attachment; there is space for FF on the main rods: